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Melanin (/ ˈ m ɛ l ə n ɪ n / ⓘ; from Ancient Greek μέλας (mélas) ' black, dark ') is a family of biomolecules organized as oligomers or polymers, which among other functions provide the pigments of many organisms. [1] Melanin pigments are produced in a specialized group of cells known as melanocytes.
Biological pigments include plant pigments and flower pigments. Many biological structures, such as skin, eyes, feathers, fur and hair contain pigments such as melanin in specialized cells called chromatophores. In some species, pigments accrue over very long periods during an individual's lifespan. [2]
Melanocytes are melanin-producing neural crest-derived [3] cells located in the bottom layer (the stratum basale) of the skin's epidermis, the middle layer of the eye (the uvea), [4] the inner ear, [5] vaginal epithelium, [6] meninges, [7] bones, [8] and heart found in many mammals and birds. [9] Melanin is a dark pigment primarily responsible ...
The primary cell wall at the pit membrane may also have depressions similar to the pit depressions of the secondary layers. These depressions are primary pit-fields, or primary pits. In the primary pit, the primordial pit provides an interruption in the primary cell wall that the plasmodesmata can cross. The primordial pit is the only aperture ...
Tyrosinase is a copper-containing enzyme present in plant and animal tissues that catalyzes the production of melanin and other pigments from tyrosine by oxidation. It is found inside melanosomes which are synthesized in the skin melanocytes. In humans, the tyrosinase enzyme is encoded by the TYR gene. [6]
Fish and frog melanophores are cells that can change colour by dispersing or aggregating pigment-containing melanosomes. A melanosome is an organelle found in animal cells and is the site for synthesis, storage and transport of melanin, the most common light-absorbing pigment found in the animal kingdom.
In flowers, the coloration that is provided by anthocyanin accumulation may attract a wide variety of animal pollinators, while in fruits, the same coloration may aid in seed dispersal by attracting herbivorous animals to the potentially-edible fruits bearing these red, blue, or purple colors.
Bellis perennis is a perennial herbaceous plant growing to 20 centimetres (8 inches) in height. [4] It has short creeping rhizomes and rosettes of small rounded or spoon-shaped leaves that are from 2 to 5 cm (3 ⁄ 4 –2 in) long and grow flat to the ground.